Progress on accessible Grutness ferry terminal toilets welcomed

NEWS that planning permission is now being sought for new accessible toilet facilities at the Grutness ferry terminal has been warmly welcomed by a councillor for the area.

Shetland South member Allison Duncan said improved toilet facilities at the terminal, which is used by the Fair Isle ferry, were “much needed”.

The accessible toilet will be housed within a portable cabin.

It comes as a proposed replacement Fair Isle ferry, which will also have improved accessibility, is due to come into service in the coming years.

The lack of accessible toilets at many ferry terminals in Shetland was raised in a meeting of the council’s audit committee back in 2022, with chairman Duncan calling for quicker progress.

Regarding Grutness, he said: “It’s taken a bit of time but we’re now in the final stages and I’m delighted that is happening.”

Duncan added that the unit should be in Shetland soon and is in line to be installed in the next few months.

It will cost just over £2,000, with the money coming from the SIC’s ferry budget.

A document included with the planning statement highlights how the existing toilets has raw a sewage outfall into the sea, but the new facility would tie into the existing network, with a septic tank installed too.

There is also a proposal to construct a ferry waiting room in Foula.